WEEK 1: Browns Defeat Cardinals With Big 4th Quarter

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns came into this season with their sights set on the playoffs. They took their first step towards that goal as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 31-20 in their season opener. Despite the victory, the Browns coaches say there is plenty of room for improvement after they had to rely on a 4th quarter comeback to come out victorious in this game.

The game started great for the Browns as they won the toss and elected to put their revamped defense on the field first. On the second play from scrimmage Browns linebacker Barrett Ruud would pick off a Chad Henne pass over the middle and take it back 24 yards for a touchdown.

After holding Arizona to a three and out on their next possession, the Browns would get the ball back only to have 2nd year quarterback Colt McCoy throw his first interception of the season on his first pass attempt. The long 3rd down pass was intercepted by Arizona cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and returned 29 yards to the Cleveland 21.

The Cardinals would capitalize on the excellent field position as Henne threw a 14 yard touchdown strike to tight end Jared Cook Jr., just three plays later, to tie the score at 7.
The Browns would need just one play to answer right back as former Cardinal Beanie Wells would take the McCoy hand off 75 yards for a touchdown to once again put the Browns up by 7 at 14-7. Wells was a mid-season addition to the Browns roster last season in the trade that sent former Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson to Arizona.

The Cardinals would add 13 more points in the 2nd quarter, with 2 Jay Feely field goals and Henne would throw for his 2nd touchdown of the day on a 5 yard pass to Early Doucet. The Cleveland offense was unable to move the ball at all in the 2nd quarter as McCoy was sacked 3 times by the Cardinals D, as Arizona would take a 20-14 lead into the half.

The Browns would make some halftime adjustments and were starting to move to ball in their 2nd possession of the 3rd quarter, after the teams traded punts, only to have McCoy throw his second interception of the day.

Early in the 4th quarter, after a Cardinals punt, the McCoy would find receiver Michael Ray Garvin streaking down the sideline for a 66 yard touchdown to take the lead 21-20.

Down by only a point with almost 6 minutes to go in the game, the Cardinals were in excellent position to take the lead back from the Browns. That's when Browns rookie safety Dorian Hill made a great play on a Henne pass over the middle for his first career interception.

The Browns would add to their lead 4 plays later as backup quarterback Seneca Wallace would take the snap and run right through the Cardinals defense for a 29 yard touchdown.

The Cardinals last attempt to comeback while down by just one score was foiled when Ruud made his second interception on the day. The Browns would capitalize on the turnover with a Phil Dawson field goal to give the Browns the 31-20 lead and the win.

NOTES: The Browns defense held the Arizona offense to just one 2nd half first down, forcing the Cardinals into two punts, two interceptions and a turnover on downs.....After allowing four sacks in the first half, the Browns offensive line pulled it together in the second half to not allow another sack....The #1 receiver on each team, Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals and T.J. Houshmandzadeh of the Browns, were held to a single catch each for a combined 17 yards.....The three rookie starters on the Browns defense, linebackers Brandon Hiller and Jermaine Griffin and safety Dorain Hill, accounted for 11 of the Browns 33 team tackles.